MSIA Legislative Report March 8, 2019

Published:

03/08/2019

MSIA Members:

What was rumored to be a major week for public education, charter schools and education savings accounts fizzled as the week drew to a close. The House and Senate were both scheduled to debate key education issues on Wednesday but the bills remained untouched by the end of the week. These issues are some of the most contentious the General Assembly will deal with over the course of the session. Its rumored they want to take these bills up before leaving on spring break on March 14th.

The House Budget Chairman Representative Cody Smith released his recommended changes to the subcommittee mark-ups on Wednesday. Committee members are to have any additional amendments they want considered distributed by noon on Friday. The full Budget Committee will meet next week to debate and adopt final changes to the subcommittee recommendations. Following that, the Budget Committee will vote the bills out of committee and they will be placed on the House Perfection Calendar. It's expected the House will take up the budget the week they return from their spring break recess.

The Senate spent some time Wednesday afternoon discussing SB 46, sponsored by Senator Andrew Koenig (R-Manchester). The bill makes numerous changes to Missouri's current tax structures. Among its many provisions, the sponsors reduces income and corporate tax rates, exempts interest received on deposits held at a federal reserve bank from Missouri adjusted gross income. Additionally, the bill requires the Department of Revenue to enter into the Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement and requires businesses to collect taxes for online purchases. During discussions, Senator Koenig offered a new floor substitute language to create a State Disaster Fund. During discussions with other Senators, several amendments were adopted including: clarifying no taxes will be collected from travel agencies; allowing an extension for any taxes due; phase out the revenue put in the disaster revenue fund; brings the state treasurer in as additional oversight to monitor the revenues the tax generates; provides a sales tax reduction on diapers and feminine products. The final amendment offered by Senator Tony Luetkemeyer (R-Parkville) was an amendment to completely eliminate the corporate income tax. After some debate with Senator Luetkemeyer, Senator Koenig laid the bill over on the Informal Calendar.

It appears when Senator Koenig is given the opportunity to take the bill up again he may offer a new floor substitute incorporating into it many of the amendments which were offered and adopted. Senator Luetkemeyer's complete repeal of the corporate tax could be a sticking point when the bill is taken up again.

On Wednesday the Senate Insurance and Banking Committee heard SB 294 dealing with workers' compensation coverage for firefighters who contract certain types of cancer while in the line of duty. Senator Lincoln Hough presented his bill and had numerous representatives of fire districts testify in support. MSIA in addition to several other groups testified in opposition. This is one of those difficult pieces of legislation where there is considerable understanding and support for the job firefighters do protecting Missourians, while at the same time trying to take into consideration the employer's perspective. No vote was taken on the bill and the parties are going to see if there is any common ground to find so the bill can move forward.

Attached is the updated bill summary and status report. Should you have questions, please give me a call.

Mike

MSIA LEGISLATIVE REPORT

03-07-2019 - 18:18:59

Top of Form

HB 48

Bangert, Gretchen(D)

Establishes a presumption that an emergency worker diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder incurred the disorder in the course of employment as an emergency worker.

Last Action:

1-10-19 H Read second time

HB 115

Remole, Tim(R)

Specifies that board members of a nonprofit organization are exempt from workers' compensation requirements.